Chris Smith: “I thank the chair for her leadership on this important issue and so many other health issues that is making all the…”

“I thank the chair for her leadership on this important issue and so many other health issues that is making all the difference in the world. This bill would not be on the floor today without her leadership. I thank Chairwoman Cathy McMorris Rodgers so very, very much for that leadership. I thank my good friend, Frank Pallone, for his strong support as well. I thank Henry Cuellar, who is the prime Democrat cosponsor. Mr. Speaker, 61 Members of the House have cosponsored it. It is a totally bipartisan piece of legislation. Anna Eshoo was not only a cosponsor but very helpful when we did Autism CARES of 2019. This builds on that and expands it and strengthens it going forward. I also thank the staff. We know so much of the great hard work, the spade work, is done by the staff; Molly Brimmer, Kristin Fritsch, and Caitlin Wilson. I also thank John McDonough on my staff. I thought John would be here. He will be here in a moment. I thank Scott Badesch who worked for the Autism Society, who is now on our staff for a dozen years, and also worked for the United Way. It is a great collaboration of great people all on behalf of helping those on the spectrum, those with severe autism, and, of course, the family members and friends who have such a heavy, heavy lift in caring for and loving because there are so many challenges. Autism spectrum disorder, Mr.…”